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The World and Everything in It is WORLD Radio's daily half-hour audio news magazine, produced Monday-Friday. Play our programs and segments online below, or subscribe to the podcast by clicking the iTunes icon or RSS icon in the right column.

Freedom to pray and the Supreme Court, IRS targeting and political freedom, WaPo’s new owner

Today’s news and a discussion of the major religious-freedom case due to be considered in the new Supreme Court term, plus: the IRS scandal and why the targeting of opposition groups strikes at the heart of the political system, what Jeff Bezos’ purchase of The Washington Post means for journalism and liberal journalists, reviews of two family-friendly home videos, and more

Program Segments

Wednesday morning news

The long-awaited first day in the trial of the soldier accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009 ended with new details from prosecutors but little word from the defendant. Maj. Nidal Hasan could face the death penalty if convicted of the numerous murder and attempted murder charges he's facing for the attack on the Texas base.

Two U.S. Senators came to Egypt yesterday with a message for the country's new military-backed leaders: Release Islamist figures as a gesture to the Muslim Brotherhood or risk making "a huge mistake." The message from Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham met with a sharp response, denounced by interim President Adly Mansour.

The sudden flood that swamped the south-central Missouri city of Waynesville killed a young boy who was swept from a vehicle, and authorities were still searching the water for a woman who is believed to be the mother of the boy. The flooding was triggered after several days of rain in the region culminated in a rare August downpour.

The attorney for a group of churches that want to erect 31 six-foot tall crosses in Evansville, Indiana says the churches may take more legal action to allow the display.

Markets: U.S. stocks were down significantly on Tuesday. The move downward was due mostly to statements from Federal Reserve official Charles Evans, who said economic growth should prompt the Fed curtail its stimulus policy later this year.

Former FEC chairman on the IRS scandal

Brad Smith says in addition to the political targeting, opponents of conservative groups want to force disclosure to expose donors to harassment: “For example, in California after Proposition 8 was passed, donors to the campaign were subjected to vandalism, in some cases their employers were subjected to boycotts and picketing until the employers either fired the people or forced them to resign.”